Automatic cleaning means for filters



June 24, 1947.

Franz AUTOMATIC CLEANING MEANS FOR FILTERS Filed'Feb. 16, 1944 L; E. LAGUARDIA 2,422,735

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.45! I if 6 i? i All A w n W L. E. LA GUARDIA Filed Feb. '16, 1944AUTOMATIC CLEANING MEANS FOR FILTERS June 24, 1947.

Patented June 24, 1947 AUTOMATIC CLEANING'MEANS FOR FILTERS Louis E. LaGuardia, New York, N. Y. Application February 16, 1944, Serial No.522,542

4 Claims.

1 This invention relates to that type of filter employing a filterelement of annular form and adapted for the passage of liquid interiorlyto an area where the clear liquid may be drawn off. The specific objectof the invention is to provide means actuated by the liquid itself foraction upon the entrant surface of the filter medium to remove sedimentor organic material collected upon said surface in the customary use ofthe filter.

The invention will described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a view in elevation, partly broken awayshowing an embodiment of the invention.

I Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section on the line 3-3,Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in section on the line 4-4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 5-5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6is a fragmentary horizontal section on the line'66, Fig. 2.

Fig. 6A is a horizontal section on the line 26 6A6A, Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the embodimentillustrated is made up of the following instrumentalities: An annularbase plate I is formed with an axial aperture and provided at the topwith a packing ring 2. Engaging the packing ring is a casing 3 of anysuitable material, preferably glass. Closing the casing at its top is anannular plate 4 provided with a packing ring. 5 which abuts the top ofthe casing 3.

Within the aperture of base plate I projects a hollow tubing 6 formedwith a plurality of apertures 1. This tubing at its top is provided witha head6 having a flange 6 Mounted upon head 6 is a rotary connectingturbine hub 8 at the center of turbine wheel 8 having blades 9. This hubrotates about a stud shaft I threaded in head 6 the stud being carriedby a flanged liquid inlet member II withina casing I2, the latter havingan upwardly projecting hollow threaded connection I2 which extendsthrough top plate 4 and receives nut I3, member I2 being shouldered toabut the inner face of plate 4. Secured to the base of easing I2 is alower closure plate I4.

Closure plate I4 is formed with an axial aperture which receivesconnecting disk I for an upper turbine wheel I6. The hub of the lowerturbine wheel, the connecting disk, and the hub of the upper turbinewheel, may be connected by pins IT. The connecting disk and upperturbine wheel will, of course, rotate about stud shaft III.

The tubular filter element I8 may be of natural stone or composition andit is held between an upper disk IN and a lower disk I9 mounted onhollow tubing 6.

The lower disk is associated with a, flanged extension I9 surrounded bya spring 20, which wire or other material as to its bristles, and thebrush is held into light contact with the filter element I8, since thebrush holder is connected by members 3|, 3I with spring press washers 2I, 23, as shown more particularly in Fig. 1.

The base plate I is apertured to receive a fluid outlet valve asindicated schematically by the valve 28. The opening for fluid throughthe valve should be adequate to cause a rapid flow of fluid through theturbine wheels and valve for rapid rotation of the brush relatively tothe filter element. V

In the operation of my apparatus, the valve 28 will normally be closed.The threaded upper end of the apparatus is hollow and may be attached toa water supply pipe. The water enters the device and flows as indicatedby the arrows, the flow being first into casing I2, and through lateralapertures through member II to the up- 0 threaded and may be attached toa pipe line leading to a suitable valve or faucet.

It will thus be seen that whenever valve 28 is closed, the filter willhave normal operation and that the brush will not rotate.

When valve 28, which, as stated, will in practice disk I4 and directlyagainst the blades 9 of the lower turbine wheel 8 as indicated in Fig.

wherein one of the inclined apertures is shown at M The liquid thuswill, in its rapid 'flo'w, rotate both connected turbine wheels inasmuchas the latter carry the brush holding elements, the specific carryingmember being the lower turbine wheel. The lower coil spring 20 exerts aslight pressure on the lower washer 21 and the upper coil spring 22exerts aslig-ht pressure on the upper washer 23. When the washers arerotated by the rotation of the brush frame 24, the washers beingconnected to the brush holder 26 by the members 28, the vpressure of thecoil springs causes a drag on the washer rotation which exerts a pull onconnecting members '28 to cause the pivotly mounted brush holder 26 tobe pressed --aga'inst the outer suriace of the filter casing andco-axial therewith through which the water percolates, a perforatedcentral tube disposed within the filter element and means supportedthereby adapted to support the ends of the filter element, a brushextending over the length of said filter element, a frame carrying saidbrush and rotatably mounted on said central tube, an outlet in thecasing and communicating with the tube for discharge fof filtered waterand an independent outlet for unfiltered water, the combination of anupper turbine wheel within the casing above the central tube, a separatehousing therefor, a spindle extending through said housing and securedto the upper end of th central tube, a lower turbine wheel within thecasing and mounted on the upper end element l8. When the outer casing 3is made of of the elements illustrated in the drawings and constitutingthe embodiment ofthe invention just described, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim and=desire to secure byLetters Patent, is as follows:

1. In a filter of the type described consisting of a casing and tubularfilter element therein through which the water percolates, a perforatedcentral tube disposed within the-filter element, a brush extending overthe length of said filter element and a frame carrying said brush androtatably mounted on said central tube, and an outlet for filtered waterat an end of said control tube and an independent outlet for unfilteredwater, the combination of a turbine housing in the top area of thecasing above said tube,

a spindle extending through the bottom of the turbine housing andsecured to the upper end of the central tube, a turbine whe'el withinsaid housing having peripheral vanes, means for connecting the brushframe to the said turbine wheel, said turbine housing having a waterinlet at its top and apertures disposed at its bottom and said brushframe having means at its top adapted to be impelled for rotation by thestreams from said apertures.

2. In a filter of the type described consisting of a casing, a tubularfilter element within the of the said brush frame in underlying relationto the housing 'of the upper turbine wheel, said housing having a waterinlet at its top and apertures disposed at its bottom and adapted todirect water jets against the vanes of said-lower turbine wheel andthereby to increase the rotating movement of the brush frame.

3. A filter constructed in accordance with claim 1 including, at eachend of the filter element, a disk secured to and for supporting the endof said filter element in concentric relation to the central tube, aflange member secured to said central tubein spaced relation to saiddisk, -a washer mounted for rotation on said flange membenacoil springinterposed between said disk and washer and means to connect said washerto the brush holder to control the action thereof upon the filterelement. 7

4. A filter constructed in accordance with claim 1 including, at eachend of the filter element, a disk secured to and for supporting the endof said filter element in concentric relation to the central tube, aflange member secured to said central tube in spaced relation to saiddisk, a washer mounted for rotation on said flange member, a coil springinterposedbetween said disk and washer, said Washer having a flexibleconnection to the brush holder whereby, upon rotation of the frame, thepressure of 'said 0011 spring against the washer imposes a "drag on theWasher rotation to effect a uniform pressure of the brush against theouter surf-ace of the filter element. a

. LOUIS E. LA GUARDI-A.

REFERENCES err-ED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

